Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 29, Dheerasankarabharanam

Shuddha Saveri

शुद्धसावेरि

Shuddha Saveri is a janya (child) raga born from Dheerasankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-audava, and known in Hindustani music as Durga. It carries a mood of Shanta: stillness; the air barely moves.

Shuddha Saveriशुद्धसावेरि

5 up · 5 downaudava-audavaglide

Pentatonic with no Ga, no Ni; open sky.

Drops G3 and N3 from Dheerasankarabharanam. Hindustani cousin: Durga.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2M1PD2S'S'D2PM1R2S

Arohanam and avarohanam

Shuddha Saveri climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 M1 P D2 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' D2 P M1 R2 S
Notes5 ascending, 5 descending (audava-audava)
Hindustani sargamS R m P D

Pentatonic with no Ga, no Ni; open sky.

The notes of Shuddha Saveri, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
M1perfect fourth (P4)
Pperfect fifth (P5)
D2major sixth (M6)

See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.

Songs to learn in Shuddha Saveri

Shuddha Saveri is explored most in alapana and improvisation. Sing its arohanam and avarohanam slowly over a tanpura to feel its path, and open it in the parent raga’s guide.

The parent: Dheerasankarabharanam

Shuddha Saveri keeps the tuning of its parent Dheerasankarabharanam but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Dheerasankarabharanam guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.

Open Shuddha Saveri in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Shuddha Saveri

What is the Shuddha Saveri raga?

Shuddha Saveri is a janya (derived) raga of the 29th melakarta, Dheerasankarabharanam. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 P D2 S' and its avarohanam is S' D2 P M1 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Shuddha Saveri?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 P D2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' D2 P M1 R2 S.

What is Shuddha Saveri in Western or Hindustani music?

Its Hindustani counterpart is Durga.